Effects of Cocaine Use on Health

Like any other addiction, cocaine abuse carries with it many harmful side effects. While they may be tough to notice at first, as the addiction grows the outward signs become far more noticable. Sufferers have to contend with numerous physical and psychological problems as cocaine abuse worsens over time.

Cocaine abuse can often go unnoticed for long periods of time as the symptoms are subtle and hard to define. As use escalates, symptoms become easier to detect as they massively effect actions and feelings. A person who has begun to abuse cocaine and is becoming addicted to the drug will focus more and more energy on acquiring and using the drug; one detrimental result of this is addiction and cravings. Once a user becomes addicted to cocaine, their mind and body become obsessed with the next intake.

As soon as cocaine enters the body it begins taking control of the user's mind. This mental obsession grows larger until it manifests itself in the person's day to day actions. Those addicted may resort to lying, cheating and stealing in order to get more cocaine; drug addicts are notorious for stealing from loved ones, lying about their use and finding devious ways to get the drugs they need. It's not uncommon for cocaine addicts to end up in jail or involved in other criminal situations due to their habits.

In addition to the mental consequences of cocaine use there are a range of physical symptoms. The chemical makeup within the body must readjust itself in order to consume the foreign substance and this change can cause loss of appetite, heart and respiratory problems, stomach cramps, cold sweats and a loss of sensory nerves. Over time the nasal passage through which the drug travels will disintegrate causing uncontrollable nosebleeds and a loss of sensory nerves. Eventually, ignored or untreated, cocaine abuse symptoms can worsen to the point of severe illness.

Although cocaine overdose is uncommon it can occur and the results may be fatal – the sufferer may experience irregular heart functions, high blood pressure resulting in brain haemorrhage, repeated convulsions and breathing failure. Even when cocaine use ends, users suffer a variety of after effects. After a cocaine binge ends they immediately experience a crash which includes depression, fatigue, anxiety, irritability, sleepiness and sometimes uncontrollable cravings. Some people experience agitation and extreme suspicion when quitting cocaine which makes it easier to fall back into bad habits.